According to the survey organised by Ferratum, an international provider of mobile consumer loans, Estonian consumers are planning to spend this year more money on Christmas shopping than in previous years.

Estonians will also be among the highest spenders of the 15 European countries that were surveyed, by planning to spend 30% of their disposable monthly household income on festive shopping. This equals approximately to 290 euros.

By comparison, Latvians plan to spend 18% (about 190 euros) and Lithuanians 28% (about 210 euros). The Ferratum's Christmas Barometer shows that people in the Eastern Europe are intending to spend relatively more than in the West, this time. Polish, Czech, Slovak , Estonian, and Romanian households are leading the planned consumption expenditure list, relative to other countries.

Following the local elections in October this year, Reform Party founder, former prime minister, EU commissioner, and presidential candidate Siim Kallas took on the job of municipal mayor of Viimsi, a community on the outskirts of Tallinn. In his interview with ERR's Toomas Sildam, Kallas talks about local government, his party, the EU presidency, and perspectives in Estonian politics.